By: Sean Schmid, Chief Operating Officer – Penn Investment Advisors
Weekly Update – June 29, 2020
The Week on Wall Street
A jump in COVID-19 cases dampened investor enthusiasm last week, sending stock prices lower on worries that rising infections could derail the economic recovery.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average slumped 3.31%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 retreated 2.86%. The Nasdaq Composite Index lost 1.90% for the week. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed stock markets overseas, declined 1.28%.[1],[2],[3]
A Rocky Week for Stocks
Investors began the week overlooking a jump in COVID-19 cases in some early reopening states, sending stocks higher and powering the NASDAQ Composite to close above 10,000 and establish a new record high on successive days. But the market quickly reversed course as investors reacted to data showing a troubling spike in nationwide COVID-19 cases.[4]
In Thursday’s trading, stocks opened lower but then rallied late in the day on no apparent news. Stocks resumed their decline on Friday, falling on news that Texas and Florida were rolling back some reopening plans amid rising COVID-19 infections.[5]
COVID-19 Cases
Investor expectations for an economic rebound took a hit last week, following reports of an increase in nationwide COVID-19 cases. The pace of infections had picked up in 33 states, with the seven-day average of new cases higher than the average over the last two weeks.[6]
While traders understood that reopening and increased testing would lead to an uptick in reported cases, the numbers were a bit unsettling. The week’s action reminded investors that the market remains tightly tethered to COVID-19 developments.
THE WEEK AHEAD –
KEY ECONOMIC DATA:
Wednesday: ADP (Automatic Data Processing) Employment Report. Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) Manufacturing Index. Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Manufacturing Index. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) Minutes.
Thursday: Employment Situation Report. Jobless Claims. Factory Orders.
Source: Econoday / Federal Reserve, June 26,, 2020. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts also are subject to revision. The release of data may be delayed without notice for a variety of reasons, including the shutdown of the government agency or change at the private institution that handles the material
THE WEEK AHEAD – COMPANIES REPORTING EARNINGS:
Monday: Micron Technologies (MU)
Tuesday: FedEx Corp. (FDX), Conagra Brands (CAG)
Wednesday: Constellation Brands (STZ), General Mills (GIS)
Source: Zacks, June 26, 2020, Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Any investment should be consistent with your objectives, time frame and risk tolerance. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule when they report earnings without notice.
Tax Tips
Working from Home and Expecting Some Tax Deductions? Not so Fast
With the COVID-19 pandemic changing the way nearly everyone works in 2020, many people have found themselves working from home. While it is true that some home office expenses can be tax deductible, there’s a specific distinction that taxpayers should be aware of.
As a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, for the tax years 2018-2025, you may not be able to deduct home office expenses if you are an employee. This is different than working from home and being self-employed or an independent contractor. These types of workers may still be able to write off some of their home office expenses.
* This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.
Tip adapted from Forbes.com[7]
Have investment questions? Call us at 1.800.626.1027 or email us at invest@pennadvisors.com.
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Footnotes, disclosures and sources:
Investment advisory services are provided through Penn Investment Advisors, Inc. (PIA), a Registered Investment Adviser. PIA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Penn Community Bank (Bank). Investment products, securities and services offered by PIA are not a deposit of, or obligation of, or guaranteed by the Bank, or an affiliate of the Bank, are not insured by the FDIC or any agency of the United States, the Bank, or any affiliate of the bank and involve investment risk, including the possibility of loss of principal. Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Diversification does not guarantee profit nor is it guaranteed to protect assets.
International investing involves special risks such as currency fluctuation and political instability and may not be suitable for all investors.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted average of 30 significant stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ. The DJIA was invented by Charles Dow back in 1896.
The Nasdaq Composite is an index of the common stocks and similar securities listed on the NASDAQ stock market and is considered a broad indicator of the performance of stocks of technology companies and growth companies.
The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) that serves as a benchmark of the performance in major international equity markets as represented by 21 major MSCI indexes from Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia.
Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance.
Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values.
Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
You cannot invest directly in an index.
Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.
Fixed income investments are subject to various risks including changes in interest rates, credit quality, inflation risk, market valuations, prepayments, corporate events, tax ramifications and other factors.
These are the views of Penn Investment Advisors, Inc., and other listed sources. This should not be construed as investment advice. Penn Investment Advisors, Inc., does not give tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please consult your financial advisor for further information. By clicking on these links, you will leave our server, as they are located on another server. We have not independently verified the information available through this link. The link is provided to you as a matter of interest. Please click on the links below to leave and proceed to the selected site.
[1] The Wall Street Journal, June 26, 2020
[2] The Wall Street Journal, June 26, 2020
[3] The Wall Street Journal, June 26, 2020
[4] Marketwatch.com, June 23, 2020
[5] FoxBusiness.com, June 26, 2020
[6] The Wall Street Journal, June 25, 2020
[7] Forbes.com, March 23, 2020